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Protest Climate Change Essay
Protest climate change now! It is a civic duty for anyone who cares for people and the planet to join the millions of people around the world calling for stronger action on climate change. The world’s climate has now reached the stage where many believe protest must include civil disobedience.
Across the world, climate protest has been led by young people. Most notably Greta Thunberg, who in 2018 decided to strike from school every Friday and protest outside the Swedish Parliament, calling for action on climate change. Indeed, this founded a movement that has been known alternatively as Fridays for Future or School Strike for Climate.
Fridays for Future
To begin with, 15-year-old Greta Thunberg was alone, but she was soon joined by other young climate activists. Greta and her fellow school strikers decided to continue their strike until Swedish policies provided a safe pathway to a future well under 2° C, i.e. in line with the Paris Agreement. Further, they created the hashtag #FridaysForFuture, and encouraged other young people all over the world to join them.
Stronger action is needed to respond to the global climate emergency and ecological collapse. Research scientists have demanded this as a proportionate response to the increased threat now posed by global warming. When the stakes are as high as the survival of human civilisation, we need to respond with a sense of urgency and determination, as part of a global movement calling for ecological justice.
Famous Climate Change Protests
In 2025 there were several significant climate change protests globally. Indeed, the Fridays for Future organisation led large-scale protests in Germany. These public protests called for more decisive action against climate change as Europe faced extreme weather events like floods and fires. Accordingly, the protestors issued a declaration highlighting a European summer of unprecedented weather conditions and calling for urgent action on climate. Moreover, these citizens demonstrations reflected a continued push for governmental and societal changes to address the climate crisis.
Protest and activism have the potential to cause “rapid, disruptive and transformative changes”. Social and environmental movements play an important role in the campaign to achieve a sustainable future for the people of planet earth.
Climate change and environmental protests in Australia have been significant in recent years, with individuals and organisations taking to the streets to demand urgent action on climate change.
Protest Climate Change Examples
Below are some climate activism movements in Australia:
- School Strike 4 Climate: Thousands of students across the country participated in a global climate strike to demand stronger action to address climate change. Subsequently, these school strikes have become regular events, with students walking out of schools to protest inaction on climate change.
- Doctors for the Environment Australia: This group is very active on the climate. In particular they highlight the negative impact of climate change on public health, including record deaths from air-pollution and urban heat.
- Extinction Rebellion: Extinction Rebellion (XR) is an international environmental movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience, while drawing attention to the climate crisis. Thus, XR chapters have organised protests, blockades, and disruptive actions in cities across Australia, calling for immediate action to reduce carbon emissions, and limit biodiversity loss.
- Climate Change Marches: Various climate change marches and rallies have been organised by environmental organisations, community groups, and activists in Australian cities. Indeed, these marches bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to demand ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
- Stop Adani Movement: Stop Adani is a campaign to oppose the construction of the Adani Carmichael coal mine in Queensland. Indeed, the movement has organised protests, blockades, and acts of civil disobedience to highlight the environmental impacts of the project.
- Fossil Free Campaigns: Fossil Free campaigns have been held to pressure institutions to divest from fossil fuel companies. So students, faculty, and community members have organised protests, petitions, and campaigns to urge universities, councils, and other organisations to divest their funds from fossil fuels
- Indigenous-led Protests: Indigenous communities and organisations have been at the forefront of climate activism in Australia. Indigenous-led protests, marches, and actions have called for recognition of Indigenous rights, protection of sacred sites, and sustainable land management practices.
Extinction Rebellion Protest
A number of climate change protests and movements have emerged in Australia in response to the urgent need for climate action. Indeed, these groups hold protests to raise awareness, mobilise public support, and put pressure on policymakers and corporations to prioritise climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
Extinction Rebellion Movement
The largest global group to arise in more recent times has been Extinction Rebellion (XR) which was founded in 2018. Extinction Rebellion has adopted a more urgent approach to protest, based on principles of civil disobedience. Asked ‘why rebel’ the XR website gives the following answer “Our world is in crisis and life itself is under threat. Now is not the time to ignore the issues; now is the time to act as if the truth is real. The science is clear. Therefore, we are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making and our governments are not doing enough to protect their citizens, our resources, our biodiversity, our planet, and our future.” XR encourage people to sign up to their newsletter.
350.org
One of the first international climate groups to protest climate change was 350.org. The goal of 350.org was to keep carbon dioxide (CO2) to 350 parts per million. This is the safe concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. However, thanks to continued emissions the level of CO2 in the atmosphere is now over 400 parts per million.
C40 Cities Network
C40 brings together a network of megacities from around the world, allowing them to drive climate action through collaboration, and to better respond to the impacts of climate change. New York City, Johannesburg, Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo, London, and Mexico City are just some cities on the list that have committed to the climate targets established in the Paris Agreement.
Other environmental group that engage in direct action include Frontline Action on Coal, Knitting Nanas and the Climate Action Network. Indeed, these organisations provide leadership in the climate protest movement. They promote any planned events or protests on their websites to facilitate your participation.
Climate change has become a major protest motivator, because the clock is ticking and time is running out. To find protests in your city check with any of these groups.
Electoral Action for a Future
Elections are a crucial part of avoiding the most dire aspects of the climate catastrophe. We need governments that will fight fossil fuel consumption. The cause of the ‘anthropogenic climate change’ that is heating the planet and driving sea-level rise is human behaviour. It is the burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Hence, we ‘must’ support political parties that are committed to transitioning to renewable energy. Voting for change means supporting the candidate with the best climate policy … every time!
Environmental Protests Examples
The climate protests at the COP30 conference in Belém, Brazil, were defined by their deep connection to the Amazon. For this reason, they were led by a powerful coalition of Indigenous peoples, riverine communities, and youth activists. Hence, the demonstrations centred on the urgent demand to halt all new fossil fuel exploration and deforestation in the rainforest.
Marchers filled the streets, singing songs, and waiving banners. Environmental activists demanded real action and “No Greenwashing.” A significant tension permeated the protests, as activists directly challenged the host nation’s contradictory policies, condemning the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure under state-owned Petrobras even as Brazil positioned itself as a climate leader. However, the overarching message was that effective climate action was impossible without Indigenous stewardship and human rights. Thus framing the Amazon not just as a carbon sink but as a living homeland requiring immediate and just protection.
Climate Change Protests Australia
Extinction Rebellion (XR) & Blockade Australia organise disruptive protests that often target banks, fossil fuel projects, and in addition government buildings. Check XR Australia or Blockade Australia for announcements.
Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) & Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) hold larger marches, usually tied to COP30 or parliamentary decisions. Monitor ACF and AYCC websites.
Union-led Climate Strikes – Some unions (e.g., CFMMEU, ETU) may organise workplace actions if Labor weakens climate policies.
Also listen to the best environment and climate podcasts to find out about the latest climate action.
School Strike for Climate Australia
School Strike for Climate Australia, also known as School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C), was formed in 2018 when a small group of students, initially in Melbourne, were inspired by Greta Thunberg to demand climate action.
Students Protest Climate Change
Students Protest Climate Change at the School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) – Usually held in March and November, aligning with global youth strikes. Follow @StrikeClimate for updates.
Climate Change protests near me
Would you like help to find events in a specific city (e.g., Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)?
How to Stay Updated
Facebook/Instagram: Search for local groups like “Climate Activist Network [Your City]”. Thank you and take any opportunity you can to protest climate change.
Relevant Material
- How to Survive Climate Disasters
- Personal Transport Emissions
- Recycle Waste
- Stop Fossil Fuel
- Urban Composting